Extra camera operators, assistants, etc may be appropriate for your goals, these are discussion items. Generally, no travel fees.

I do need a refundable deposit to reserve a calendar date ($495) and typically, balance due 30 days prior to the wedding. I can do monthly installments.

What’s your video style? (Documentary, Cinematic, Vintage…)

Is your shooting approach more direct or more journalistic?

These are mostly fluffy promotional statements by wedding people, trying to distinguish themselves – look at my posted highlights pieces of actual weddings! That’s my style, and range of style. If you like it, I’d love to participate in your celebration!

Pretty much any kind of design look and directorial behavior is workable with some collaborative planning between us. What have you seen that you especially like? Let’s start the discussion with those examples and ideas…

YOU may want a particular look and feel – I can deliver that! You are the boss.

Have you done many weddings before? What is your storytelling approach when it comes to covering a wedding?

I do a mix of personal, events and corp/business work. I’m fundamentally a STORYTELLER. This has some advantages! I know how to create a story, a visual flow, editing and engagement power.

I have broader experience in media presentation, direction, shooting, editing … than most. And, the storytelling component is actually more about EDITING than shooting. Yes, you need very capable camera dudes/gals to get nice compositions, the key shots and important timing – but the story is in the edits, when it comes down to watching your Memories-in-Motion later.

Will you coordinate with our photographer? Have you ever shot a wedding at Such-And-Such-Place?

Absolutely, I try to stay out of their way and assist however I can; I hope they try to support me the same way… and there are cool opportunities for both of us usually … for example shooting video “behind the scenes” of the group portrait or engagement activities, preparations, etc.

There’s an infinity of wedding venues from professional services to home-based. I may not have been to your chosen venue before, BUT! I try to always checkout the venue ahead of time. I usually come to the rehearsal, to be sure to see the flow of the ceremony, and plan strategy for schedules and camera flow.

Lighting conditions and audio support are all key items to investigate PRIOR to the wedding for the best results! Many vendors don’t do this, they just show up and hope for the best!

Will we be the only wedding you video on our wedding day? What is your time limit? How should we plan how many hours of coverage we need? Do you have a backup plan if you get sick?

Scheduling and coverage is completely up to you – we will estimate your hourly plans and activities coverage, if circumstances require more time, no problem, just more per-hour charges for shooting and editing time (roughly $150hr ), any time-overage will always be at your discretion and approval. Spontaneous plan changes are ok, usually.

Having backup videographers is generally my policy. I typically work with partners and we cover each other as needed. Prime-time wedding months (June/Sept etc) may be difficult to find quality backup, however. In those instances, it’s possible to simply schedule an additional shooter for minimal ceremony coverage, as a smart backup plan. I’ve never left anyone hanging!

What types of cameras, tapes, and microphones will the videographer use? How will you achieve the “look and feel” we are after in our videos? How new is the equipment? Backup equipment and support?

I’m all-digital, hd/4K, with multi-cam backup. I have shooting partners available on standby.

For archives, I can provide a USBflashdrive or harddrive, with high resolution finished videos. All source footage and edting/design project files are also available for a small processing and USBdrive prep/delivery fee.

Again it’s all up to you – what do you want?

What parts of the wedding day do you film?

Review the pricing option doc for details, but typical coverage would be some pre-wedding preparations, full ceremony coverage, 2-5 hrs of reception coverage, speeches and interviews … dollars boil down to how many hours of shooting, and how many shooters (keeping in mind that it takes 2X the hours to edit, as to shoot, with EACH camera)

When will we receive the final wedding video?

Usually 2-3 wks following the wedding. The full ceremony video usually within 3-4 days!

Expedited editing is possible with sleeplessness fees and other scheduling considerations, as well as advance planning collaboration.

Is there a contract? Can we see a copy?

I don’t usually have a formal contract – I provide an invoice itemization of agreed services and terms, planning, payment schedule, options, etc. – all online, secure invoicing via PayPal.

I work with agreeable people and engage my clients in the same way.

Where can we see some recent work?

Click the Featured Weddings menu, on this site. Browse the About section for more links!

What makes you different from your competitors?

The magic is in the details! Attention to detail! Editing is where the storytelling magic comes – a mix of creativity, experience, entertainment ability, strong camera skills, composition skills, good skills for audio mixing, music selection, rhythm, timing, pace … what makes a good filmmaker? Entertainment and storytelling (editing, shooting, directing, planning, experience, depth and breadth)

Work Ethic and Process, Collaborative Intent. I tend to work with a more creative mentality, incorporating motion graphics, storytelling techniques, more cinematic shooting (3-4 cams), etc. I’m a broad-based video producer and creative director, not a volume-wedding producer like many. I’m not for everyone!

The extra emotional and storytelling effort / time is mostly in the storytelling attention to editing, and creative editing, as well as design considerations … although some of it is attempting to setup with more quality than the usual point-and-shoot dudes, too. For example, I try to mic the groom/podium and tap into room DJ audio, for much better quality audio than the usual room ambient camera mics that most use. I shoot with 3-4 cams for cooler editing options.

The lower quotes will typically be fast, basic edits (“documentary” is a synonym for point and shoot and done), with no attention to viewer engagement, storytelling, support visuals and music, “memory-making”, family and friends stories and interactions … they will give you what you pay for, which is a quick 1-2 hr edit, basic event documentation with little creativity or personality infused.

So – more than editing time is involved, it’s usually very creative collaboration time between my client and I. Same comments apply on the photography end (even though I’m not doing that), look for visual creativity and collaborative intent, in the talent you hire. Engaging visuals are time intensive, as well as creatively and collaboratively intensive … there really aren’t any shortcuts for that (other than
experience).

Your memory/money objectives of this life event will define the end result – scrapbook or memory!